Information about CalFresh for mixed-status and immigrant households including the topic of Public Charge, can be found here.

Students qualify for CalFresh, though some special rules apply. The CalFresh Student Eligibility Handbook, released by California Dept. of Social Services (CDSS) in February 2020 is quite comprehensive.

Learn more about reaching students with CalFresh by watching this webinar.

New rule change: Current rules in CalFresh restrict most full time students from receiving benefits, unless they meet an exemption, despite reports of widespread hunger on college campuses. Exemptions to the rule exist for students who are working a certain number of hours, participating in federal work-study, or caring for young children, to name a few. Unfortunately, the shortage of jobs has made it hard for students to survive.

The Hunger Free Education Act reduces barriers to achieving academic success and social mobility for low-income college students. It draws down federal food assistance funding through procedures for determining whether students qualify for exemptions to the CalFresh student work requirement. A new exemption includes students who participate in the Extended Opportunity Programs (EOP). More info at Western Center on Law & Poverty.

Many studies are finding that a significant number of students nationwide struggle with hunger, homelessness, and poverty, and many colleges are opening campus food pantries. California State University (CSU) published a February 2016 study showing that 24% of the CSU system's 460,000 students could be struggling with hunger. The report recommends CSU administrators devote more funding to addressing student hunger and homelessness.

This presentation, by River City Food Bank, answers questions regarding doing outreach with people who do not have a permanent home. This includes the CalFresh definition of homeless, homeless youth, ID verification, residency and address issues, shelter residents, reporting, and other information.

This July 2013 All County Letter (ACL) provides clarification on homeless youth applying for CalFresh. This includes specific information on the definition of homeless, proof of identification, verification of address, and the misconception that there is an age requirement.

Legal Services of Northern California explains homeless rights in the CalFresh program.

The 2014-15 state budget repealed the lifetime ban on CalFresh benefits for individuals with prior drug-related felony offenses, as long as they are complying with the conditions of their probation or parole. Since March 1, 2015, people with felony drug convictions can apply for CalFresh. This helps ensure that Californians have access to the nutrition resources necessary for a successful re-entry. The budget action also repeals the ban on CalWORKs basic needs assistance benefits.

CalFresh and CalWORKs are crucial to many low-income individuals and families in California. These programs help with food, rent, job training and placement, and other important services that many of us might need at some point. Many families and individuals have been denied access to these programs through “Tough On Crime” policies that instituted lifetime bans on basic survival services.

Individuals with drug and felony convictions are disproportionately low-income, and more than half are parents. That is a lot of families that could be left without a safety net of social services, especially when the unemployment rate for people with criminal records can be quite high. Lack of services, employment, and assistance leads to homelessness and recidivism (relapsing into criminal behavior). It also continues to criminalize past acts that have already been settled through fines and imprisonment. It denies food and housing to children who are innocent of whatever crimes their parents committed.

More information is available from Nourish California.